Operation Shield nets 48 arrests so far this weekend in Youngstown

Police are making much headway in fighting crime in the city during a weekend law-enforcement sweep, said Youngstown Police Chief Rod Foley.

Called Operation Shield, the joint operation includes city police, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the FBI, Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, Mahoning County Juvenile Probation Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the U.S. Marshal’s Office; the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; and the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force.

The weekend patrols kick off the city’s efforts to reduce violent crime over the summer.

Foley said Saturday night that so far, the sweep has netted 48 arrests, including multiple felony arrests.

He said there have been 159 traffic stops, eight search warrants executed, six arrests of people who had guns while prohibited from owning one, and 64 traffic warnings. He said $1,000 was seized during the warrant searches.